Bridle.



'PATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

F. A.l STIMSON.

BRIDLE.

APPLIUATIoN-IILED SEPT. 1o, 190e.

I ifi/ me NoRRls PETER: co., wAsmNn-mn, n4 cv expose the stifl'ening FRANK ALVA STIMSON, OF PAGE,

NORTH DAKOTA.

BRIDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 21, 1907.

Application filed September 19, 1906. Serial N0. 335,251.

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANK ALvA SrrMsoN, I

This invention relates to bridles. The Qbjects of the invention are to imcrease the expense attending their manufacl ture.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of arts and in the and claimed, being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the accompanying' drawings forming part of this specification *igure l is a side elevation, showing a portion of a bridle constructed in accordance with the present invention Fig. 2 is a view, showing plate; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the blinders, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view looking at the inner side of one of the rosette attachments.

Like reference spending parts in drawings. p

The improved bridle of the present invention comprises a crown strap l which is adapted to pass over a horses head behind the ears in the usual manner, a front strap 2 adapted to pass around the front of the horses head a throat strap 3 to hold the bridle in position, a cheek strap 4 and a blinder 5, these parts, of course, being duplicated on the opposite side of the bridle. The bit, which is to be secured to the lower ends of the cheek straps 4, may be of any suitable form and construction, which it is not necessary herein to illustrate.

The blinder 5 preferably consists of an l outer cover member 6, formed preferably of leather; a stiffening piece 7, formed preferably of sheet metal and flared outwardly at i numerals indicate correthe different figures of the I its forward end as indicated in Fig. 3,' and an inner cover member S, formed preferably of leather, the outer and inner cover members 6 and 8' being stitched together to form a pocliet adapted to receive the stiflening piece 7 which gives the proper shape to the blinder. The rear edge of the inner cover member 8 is bent outwardly around the cheek strap 4 to form a pocket or sleeve portion for holding said cheek strap and blinder together. The extreme edge of said inner cover member 8 is trimmed down or beveled, as indicated at 9, and is fitted under the similarly trimmed or beveled rear edge 10 of the outer cover member 6. The beveled edges 9 an'd 10 are then stitchedrtogether so as to produce a strong pocket or sleeve portion for the cheek strap.

The cheek strap 4 is folded flat upon itself, as shown in the drawing, to form a loop, the two ends of which loop are secured together by means such as the buckle 1l. The flat loop formed by the cheek strap 4 extends through the pocket or sleeve portion in the rear edge ofthe blinder 5, 'as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The rosette attachment 12, illustrated particularly in Fig. 4, is formed at its upper end with an approximately straight slot 13 to receive the crown strap l, and at its forward end with a similar slot 14 to receive the front strap 2. In addition to the slots 13 and 14, the rosette attachment is formed with an approximately semi-circular bar 15 around which the upper end of the cheek strap 4 is looped before it is folded passed down through the sleeve portion or pocket in the blinder 5, a leather collar or slide 17 being passed around the cheek stra 4 below the curved bar 15 to hold the two portions of the cheek strap ilat against each other.

The throat strap 3 is secured to the curved bar 15 of the rosette attachment in rear of the cheek strap 4, as shown in Fig. 1. For the purpose of causing the rosette attachment l2 to present an ornamental appearance, a guard or shield 18 preferably is secured to an arm 19 which is cast or otherwise formed integral w th the bar 15 together with the metallic portions 20 in which the slots 13 and 14 are formed.

For the purpose of holding the blinder 5 in position upon the cheek strap 4 so as to prevent the same from slipping downward upon said cheek strap, the sleeve portion or pocket lOO IIO

' bridle.

serve to prevent said blinder from accidentally slipping downward upon the cheek strap in the event that a thong be not passed through the aperture 22, as previously described. It will be understood that the free or loose end of the cheek strap 4 can be passed .upward into the lower end of the pocket of the blinder so as to prevent it from sticking loosely outward from the bridle.

By reason of the fact that the cheek strap 4 passes around the curved bar 15 of the rosette attachment, the bridle readily accommodates itself to the motion of the horses head, whereby it fits perfectly and is comfortable and humane.

The inner surface of the blinder 5 and the pocket thereof is perfectly smooth and will not chafe or irritate the animal.

What is claimed is:

A bridle having a outer cover, a stiffening cover, one of said covers having its rear edge shaped to form a pocket or loop for the cheek strap, the eXtreme edge of said cover being fitted under the rear edge of the other cover and secured thereto.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aHiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

of the blinder may, if desired, be formed with ears 21 having perforations 22 through which a thread or thong may be passed to engage a similar perforation 23 in the cheek strap 4. If desired, a plurality of perforations 23 may be formed in the cheek strap 4 adjacent the u er end of the blinder and an elongated slot 24 may be formed in said cheek strap adjacent the lower end of the blinder so that when it is desired to adjust the blinder vertically with respect to the cheek strap, the upper thong may be removed and fitted into another perforation 23. It will not be necessary to remove the lower thong, as it wi readily slide in the longitudinal slot 24.

The peculiar advantage of the form of blinder herein described is that it is particularly adapted to be manufactured by machinery and does not necessitate the use of hand labor, for which reason its use is calcu# blinder comprising an lated to reduce the cost of producing the plate and an inner The improved bridle of the present invention is strong, simple, and durable in construction.

If desired, the cheek strap 4 may be ad justed by means of the lbuckle l1 so as to cause said buckle to bear against the lower end of the blinder 5 and thus raise or lower I said blinder. Furthermore, the bit of the FRANK ALVA STMSON. bridle may be similarly adjusted. The Witnesses:

buckle 11, by reason of its location at the A. BRUDEVOHL,

lower end of the pocket of the blinder, will O. A. Pit-ABLE. 

